Dr. Aleman's research primarily concentrates on the effectiveness and safety of surgical techniques for spinal disorders, such as lumbar spinal stenosis and scoliosis, especially in adults. He evaluates how different treatment options impact quality of life and recovery. Additionally, he investigates the costs associated with surgeries, like thyroidectomies, to highlight financial disparities based on surgical practices. His findings also extend to emerging treatments, such as using stem cell-derived cells for eye diseases, which aim to prevent vision loss in patients suffering from conditions like macular degeneration.
Key findings
Patients over 40 years old with scoliosis reported significant improvements in pain and physical health after surgery, while younger patients had better long-term outcomes.
Thyroid surgeries in one department were $112 cheaper on average than those in another department, highlighting the cost variations based on surgical practices.
53% of patients using ABM/P-15 as a bone substitute experienced abnormal CT scan results, compared to just 1% for other materials, although both had similar healing success.
Unilateral biportal endoscopy improved spinal space by 4.9 mm compared to 3.75 mm with tubular decompression, while both methods had similar outcomes for pain relief.
Female surgical residents performed 37 fewer surgical cases than their male peers, equating to a loss of 1 to 3 months of experience.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Aleman study scoliosis?
Yes, Dr. Aleman researches various aspects of scoliosis in adults, including surgical outcomes and quality of life improvements.
What kind of surgeries does Dr. Aleman focus on?
He focuses on spinal surgeries, particularly for conditions like lumbar spinal stenosis and scoliosis, as well as thyroid surgeries.
Is Dr. Aleman's work relevant to patients with eye diseases?
Yes, he studies treatments using stem cell-derived cells to help patients suffering from severe eye diseases, aiming to prevent vision loss.
How does Dr. Aleman's research impact healthcare costs?
His research highlights significant cost differences in surgical procedures, which could lead to strategies for reducing healthcare costs for patients.
What does Dr. Aleman's study on gender in surgery training reveal?
It reveals that female surgical residents perform fewer procedures than their male colleagues, indicating a need for improvements in training environments.
Publications in plain English
Cost Analysis of Thyroidectomy.
2026
The American surgeon
Aleman C, McLeod MC, Gillis A, Lindeman B, Fazendin J +2 more
Plain English The study looked at the costs of thyroid surgery performed by different surgeons at a large medical center. The findings showed that surgeries by surgeons in one department (Department A) were $112 cheaper on average compared to another department (Department B). Additionally, the cost of materials used varied significantly among surgeons, with the highest at $1,590 and the lowest at $523. This research matters because it highlights how much surgery costs can differ based on the surgeon and may lead to strategies for reducing these costs in the future.
Who this helps: This helps patients by potentially lowering the costs of thyroid surgery.
Idiopathic Thoracolumbar Scoliosis Treated at Adult Age: Timing of Surgery and Quality of Life.
2026
Spine
Lamotte-Paulet P, Gourinchat M, Aleman C, Severac F, Núñez-Pereira S +12 more
Plain English This study looked at how adult patients with scoliosis experienced changes in their quality of life (QoL) before and after surgery. Researchers found that people aged 30 to 42 saw a decline in their QoL before surgery, and those over 40 benefited the most from surgery, showing significant improvements in pain and physical health scores. Overall, while all age groups improved, younger patients had better long-term outcomes compared to those over 40.
Who this helps: This helps adult scoliosis patients and their doctors by providing insights on timing and expected recovery outcomes after surgery.
Macečková Brymová A, Rodriguez-Jimenez FJ, Konrad A, Nemesh Y, Thottappali MA +23 more
Plain English This study looked at how well human stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells survive and work after being implanted in the eyes of healthy minipigs. The researchers found that these cells maintained their important features and successfully interacted with the eye's photoreceptor cells for up to 6 weeks, with no signs of inflammation or damage. This is important because it shows that replacing lost RPE cells might help prevent further vision loss in patients with serious eye diseases.
Who this helps: Patients suffering from retinal diseases like Stargardt disease and macular degeneration.
Tubular versus unilateral biportal endoscopy: MRI analysis after unilateral laminectomy for bilateral decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis.
2025
European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
Ross N, Aleman C, Dhenin A, Vassal M, Lonjon G
Plain English This study looked at two modern surgical methods—tubular decompression and unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE)—for treating severe lumbar spinal stenosis when other treatments fail. Researchers found that UBE improved certain measurements of spinal space more than tubular decompression did, with increases of about 4.9 mm versus 3.75 mm for spinal diameter, and 95.8 mm² versus 85.4 mm² for the area around the spinal cord. However, both methods provided similar improvements in pain and disability over time, and complications were low, though UBE had a slightly higher risk of bleeding.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients with severe lumbar spinal stenosis needing surgery.
Unexpected findings on CT scan after use of ABM/P-15 as a bone substitute for anterior lumbar interbody fusion.
2025
Orthopaedics & traumatology, surgery & research : OTSR
Aleman C, Ross N, Phan P, Dhenin A, Vassal M +1 more
Plain English Researchers studied the use of a bone substitute called ABM/P-15 in spinal surgery to see if it caused more unexpected issues after surgery compared to other substitutes. They found that 53% of patients using ABM/P-15 had abnormal results on CT scans (like calcification or migration), compared to just 1% for the other substitutes, but both groups had similar success rates in healing and pain relief after one year. This matters because it highlights the need for careful monitoring of patients using ABM/P-15, even though it doesn't affect overall recovery.
Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing spinal surgery and their doctors in making informed decisions about bone substitutes.
Does Your Gender Impact Resident Operative Experience? A Multi- Institutional Qualitative Study.
2025
Journal of surgical education
Zmijewski P, Aleman C, Panzica N, Akhund R, Lindeman B +4 more
Plain English This study looked at how gender affects the surgical training experience of female residents compared to male residents. It was found that female surgical residents performed about 37 fewer surgeries on average during their training, which can be as much as 1 to 3 months less experience. The research highlights significant obstacles faced by female residents, such as feeling pressured to complete non-surgical tasks first and experiencing disrespect in the operating room, indicating a need for better support and changes in training practices to ensure equal opportunities.
Who this helps: This helps female surgical residents seeking equitable training experiences.
Canadian Spine Society: 25th Annual Scientific Conference, February 25 to 28, 2025, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, La Malbaie, Charlevoix, Que., Canada.
2025
Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie
Chan V, Gausper A, Liu A, Andras LM, Illingworth KD +1284 more
When I Don't see me, Am I seen? Race and student perception of the surgery clerkship.
2024
American journal of surgery
Zmijewski P, Aleman C, McLeod C, Gillis A, Sidani M +6 more
Plain English This study looked at the experiences of medical students during their surgery training, focusing on those who are Under-Represented in Medicine (URiM) compared to their peers. Out of 235 students, URiM students felt less positively about surgical residents and faculty as role models; for instance, they rated residents’ role modeling at 2.86 while non-URiM students gave them a score of 3.28. This is important for making surgery education more inclusive and supportive, which can help recruit more diverse medical professionals.
Who this helps: This helps medical students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.
Coronal alignment in normal individuals and moderate scoliosis: Normative values, variation with age and comparison with sagittal alignment.
2024
Brain & spine
Gharbi A, Obeid I, Larrieu D, Boissière L, Huneidi M +4 more
Plain English This study looked at the alignment of the spine in people without any spinal deformities and those with mild scoliosis (curvature of the spine). Researchers found that the overall alignment of the spine was similar between the two groups, with only a minor difference in the tilt of certain vertebrae (3.3 degrees). This is important because it shows that even with mild scoliosis, the main measurements of spinal alignment remain consistent over different ages, which can help guide treatment decisions.
Who this helps: This helps doctors and patients with mild scoliosis in understanding how their condition relates to overall spine alignment.